The industry-standard Cisco® Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Gigabit Interface Converter (Figure 1) links your switches and routers to the network. The hot-swappable input/output device plugs into a Gigabit Ethernet port or slot. Optical and copper models can be used on a wide variety of Cisco products and intermixed in combinations of 1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX/LH, 1000BASE-EX, 1000BASE-ZX, or 1000BASE-BX10-D/U on a port-by-port basis.

Figure 1. Cisco Optical Gigabit Ethernet SFP

Figure 2. Cisco 1000BASE-T Copper SFP

Figure 3. Cisco 2-channel 1000BASE-BX Optical SFP

Features and Benefits

●Hot swappable to maximize uptime and simplify serviceability

●Flexibility of media and interface choice on a port-by-port basis, so you can “pay as you populate”

The 1000BASE-SX SFP, compatible with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-SX standard, operates on legacy 50 μm multimode fiber links up to 550 m and on 62.5 μm Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)-grade multimode fibers up to 220 m. It can support up to 1km over laser-optimized 50 μm multimode fiber cable.

The 1000BASE-EX SFP operates on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to 40 km in length. A 5-dB inline optical attenuator should be inserted between the fiber-optic cable and the receiving port on the SFP at each end of the link for back-to-back connectivity.

1000BASE-ZX SFP for Long-Reach Single-Mode Fibers

The 1000BASE-ZX SFP operates on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to approximately 70 km in length. The SFP provides an optical link budget of 21 dB, but the precise link span length depends on multiple factors such as fiber quality, number of splices, and connectors.

When shorter distances of single-mode fiber (SMF) are used, it might be necessary to insert an inline optical attenuator in the link to avoid overloading the receiver. A 10-dB inline optical attenuator should be inserted between the fiber-optic cable plant and the receiving port on the SFP at each end of the link whenever the fiber-optic cable span loss is less than 8 dB.

The 1000BASE-BX-D and 1000BASE-BX-U SFPs, compatible with the IEEE 802.3ah 1000BASE-BX10-D and 1000BASE-BX10-U standards, operate on a single strand of standard SMF.

A 1000BASE-BX10-D device is always connected to a 1000BASE-BX10-U device with a single strand of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 10 km.

The communication over a single strand of fiber is achieved by separating the transmission wavelength of the two devices as depicted in Figure 2: 1000BASE-BX10-D transmits a 1490-nm channel and receives a 1310-nm signal, whereas 1000BASE-BX10-U transmits at a 1310-nm wavelength and receives a 1490-nm signal. As shown, the presence of a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) splitter integrated into the SFP to split the 1310-nm and 1490-nm light paths.

Figure 4. Bidirectional Transmission of a Single Strand of SMF

The GLC-BX-D and GLC-BX-U SFPs also support digital optical monitoring (DOM) functions according to the industry-standard SFF-8472 multisource agreement (MSA). This feature gives the end user the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical output power, optical input power, temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage.

2-Channel 1000BASE-BX10-D for Single-Fiber Bidirectional Applications

The 2-channel 1000BASE-BX-D SFP module, also known as Compact SFP, integrates two IEEE 802.3ah 1000BASE-BX10-D interfaces in one SFP module. The GLC-2BX-D is always connected to two 1000BASE-BX10-U interfaces over two single strands of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 10km.

GLC-2BX-D is designed to connect to any standard-based Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) in FTTx links (Figure 3).

The Cisco GLC-BX40-D-I, GLC-BX40-DA-I, and GLC-BX40-U-I SFPs operate on a single strand of standard SMF.

A GLC-BX40-D-I or GLC-BX40-DA-I device connects to a GLC-BX40-U-I device with a single strand of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 40 km.

The communication over a single strand of fiber is achieved by separating the transmission wavelength of the two devices. The GLC-BX40-D-I, GLC-BX40-DA-I, and GLC-BX40-U-I SFPs also support digital optical monitoring (DOM) functions according to the industry-standard SFF-8472 multisource agreement (MSA). This feature gives the end user the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical output power, optical input power, temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage.

The Cisco GLC-BX80-D-I and GLC-BX80-U-I SFPs operate on a single strand of standard SMF.

A GLC-BX80-D-I device is always connected to a GLC-BX80-U-I device with a single strand of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 80 km.

The communication over a single strand of fiber is achieved by separating the transmission wavelength of the two devices. The GLC-BX80-D-I and GLC-BX80-U-I SFPs also support digital optical monitoring (DOM) functions according to the industry-standard SFF-8472 multisource agreement (MSA). This feature gives the end user the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical output power, optical input power, temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage.

100/1000BASE-LX SFP for Long-Reach Single-Mode Fibers

The dual-rate 100M/1G 10Km SFP is interoperable with the IEEE 100BASE-LX and 1000BASE-LX/LH standards.

The GLC-GE-DR-LX SFP also supports digital optical monitoring (DOM) functions according to the industry-standard SFF-8472 multisource agreement (MSA). This feature gives the end user the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical output power, optical input power, temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage.

SFP Operation at 100M

The GLC-GE-DR-LX SFP can interoperate with other 100M SFPs/interfaces as long as those are based on 100BASE-LX10 standard. A 5dB attenuator is needed on the path of dual-rate SFP Tx and 100BASE-LX10 interface Rx. No attenuator is needed on the other fiber strand.

SFP Operation at 1G

The GLC-GE-DR-LX SFP can interoperate with other 1G SFPs/interfaces as long as those are based on 1000BASE-LX/LH standard. No attenuator is needed in any fiber strand.

Note: Only connections with patch cords with PC or UPC connectors are supported. Patch cords with APC connectors are not supported. All cables and cable assemblies used must be compliant with the standards specified in the standards section.

Table 1 provides cabling specifications for the SFPs that you install in the Gigabit Ethernet port. Note that all SFP ports have LC-type connectors, and the minimum cable distance for all SFPs listed (multimode and single-mode fiber) is 6.5 feet (2 m).

Table 1.SFP Port Cabling Specifications

Product

Wavelength (nm)

Fiber Type

Core Size (μm)

Modal Bandwidth (MHz* Km)***

Operating Distance (m)

1000BASE-SX

850

MMF

62.5

160 (FDDI-grade)

220 (722 ft)

62.5

200 (OM1)

275 (902 ft)

50

400 (400/400)

500 (1,640 ft)

50

500 (OM2)

550 (1,804 ft)

50

2000 (OM3)

1000 (3281 ft)

1000BASE-LX/LH

1310

MMF*

62.5

500

550 (1,804 ft)

50

400

550 (1,804 ft)

50

500

550 (1,804 ft)

SMF

-**

-

10,000 (32,821 ft)

1000BASE-EX

1310

SMF

-**

-

40,000 (131,234 ft)

1000BASE-ZX

1550

SMF

-

-

Approximately 70 km depending on link loss

1000BASE-BX-U

1310

SMF

-**

-

10,000 (32,821 ft)

1000BASE-BX-D

1490

SMF

-**

-

10,000 (32,821 ft)

GLC-BX40-D-I

1550

SMF

-**

-

40,000 (131,234 ft)

GLC-BX40-DA-I

1490

SMF

-**

-

40,000 (131,234 ft)

GLC-BX40-U-I

1310

SMF

-**

-

40,000 (131,234 ft)

GLC-BX80-D-I

1570

SMF

-**

-

80,000 (262,467 ft)

GLC-BX80-U-I

1490

SMF

-**

-

80,000 (262,467 ft)

GLC-GE-DR-LX

1310

SMF

-**

-

10,000 (32,821 ft)

* A mode-conditioning patch cord, as specified by the IEEE standard, is required regardless of the span length. Note how the mode conditioning patch cord for 62.5-μm fibers has a different specification from the mode-conditioning patch cord for 50-μm fibers.

**ITU-T G.652 SMF as specified by the IEEE 802.3z standard.

*** Specified at transmission wavelength.

Optical Specifications

Table 2 specifies the optical parameters for the SFPs. Both receiver power and channel insertion loss specifications must be met for guaranteed operation.

Table 2.Main Optical Parameters

Product

Transmit Power Range (dBm)

Receive Power Range (dBm)

Maximum Channel insertion loss in dB (by fiber type)*

Transmit and Receive Wavelength Range (nm)

1000BASE-SX

-3 to -9.5

0 to -17

2.4 (FDDI-grade) 2.6 (OM1) 3.4 (400/400) 3.6 (OM2) 5 (OM3)

770 to 860

1000BASE-LX/LH

-3 to -9.5

-3 to -20

2.4 (any MMF) 6 (G.652 SMF)

1270 to 1355

1000BASE-EX

+3 to -1

+1 to -22

18 (G.652 SMF)

1290 to 1335

1000BASE-ZX

+5 to 0

-3 to -23

21 (any SMF)

1500 to 1580

1000BASE-BX10-D

-3 to -9

-3 to -19.5

5.5 (G.652 SMF)

1480 to 1500 (Transmit)

1260 to 1360 (Receive)

1000BASE-BX10-U

-3 to -9

-3 to -19.5

6 (G.652 SMF)

1260 to 1360 (Transmit)

1480 to 1500 (Receive)

GLC-BX40-D-I

-5 to +3

-25 to +3

19 (G.652 SMF)

1540 to 1560 (Transmit)

1260 to 1360 (Receive)

GLC-BX40-DA-I

-5 to +3

-25 to +3

19 (G.652 SMF)

1480 to 1500 (Transmit)

1260 to 1360 (Receive)

GLC-BX40-U-I

-5 to +3

-25 to +3

19 (G.652 SMF)

1260 to 1360 (Transmit)

1480 to 1600 (Receive)

GLC-BX80-D-I

-2 to +3

-27 to +3

23 (G.652 SMF)

1560 to 1580 (Transmit)

1470 to 1510 (Receive)

GLC-BX80-U-I

-2 to +3

-27 to +3

23 (G.652 SMF)

1480 to 1500 (Transmit)

1550 to 1620 (Receive)

GLC-GE-DR-LX

-9.5 to -3

-25 to -3

6 (G.652 SMF)

1260 to 1360

* Maximum channel insertion loss is defined for maximum distance guaranteed as specified in Table 1 and by fiber type. When links are deployed over shorter distances, additional channel insertion loss may be allowed.